Northern Victorian Seasonal Allocations Updated

Allocation Data

Seasonal allocations for Goulburn-Murray Water customers on 15 Jul 2011:

Further Information

The Resource Manager for northern Victorian regulated water systems today updated the seasonal allocations and outlooks for 2011/12.

Seasonal Allocations

The seasonal allocation in the Murray system is 33% of high-reliability water shares (HRWS), which is an increase of 12%. The seasonal allocation in the Goulburn and Loddon systems increased by 12% to be 60% HRWS. The Broken system seasonal allocation rose by 2% to 20% HRWS.

The Bullarook system seasonal allocation has increased from 39% HRWS to be 100% HRWS and 100% of low-reliability water shares (LRWS).

The seasonal allocation in the Campaspe system is unchanged at 100% HRWS and 47% LRWS.

"The improvements in the seasonal allocations for the Murray and Goulburn systems came from higher than anticipated storage inflows," said Dr Mark Bailey, Resource Manager. "The catchments in the north-east ranges are quite wet and responded well to the recent rainfall. There was a good response in the Bullarook Creek catchment, which allowed a large improvement to the allocation in that system."

"The Goulburn system has also benefited from the releases currently occurring at Lake Eildon," said Dr Bailey. "There has been approximately 66,300 megalitres released from Lake Eildon since 1 July. This has caused the volumes held in Goulburn spillable water accounts, the Goulburn inter-valley trade account, and Living Murray environmental entitlements to be each debited by approximately 11%. The spilled volume has been reassigned to the resources available for allocation."

"The Lake Eildon releases are continuing, so additional volumes will be debited from the three accounts at the next allocation update," added Dr Bailey.

Volumes of Goulburn Spill at 15 July 2011

Outlook for 2011/12 Seasonal Allocations

The outlooks for 2011/12 allocations are based on observed inflows in seasons following similar early winter inflows.

The following terminology is used in the outlook tables:

                 ‘Wet'            - Inflow volumes that have 1 chance in 10 of being exceeded

                 ‘Average'    - Inflow volumes that have 5 chances in 10 of being exceeded

                 ‘Dry'              - Inflow volumes that have 9 chances in 10 of being exceeded

Murray System (Allocation against high-reliability water shares)

Goulburn and Loddon Systems (Allocation against high-reliability water shares)

Allocations against low-reliability water shares in the Murray, Goulburn and Loddon systems will depend on prevailing weather conditions.

Broken system allocations are expected to reach 100% HRWS during spring. An allocation of low‑reliability water shares is expected, with the timing dependent on seasonal conditions.

The Campaspe system is likely to have a 100% allocation of low-reliability water shares this season.

Summary of Seasonal Allocations

The seasonal allocations for northern Victorian water systems on Friday 15 July 2011 are:

Customers participating in the water trading market are reminded that the Murray-Darling Basin Authority has relaxed the rule controlling allocation trade from upstream of the Barmah Choke to downstream users. The ability to trade across the Barmah Choke will be regularly reviewed by the Murray-Darling Basin Authority and the relaxation may be lifted at any time during the season.

The next allocation announcement will be issued on Monday 1 August 2011. Allocation outlooks will be updated on Monday 15 August 2011.

A risk of spill assessment for the Goulburn and Campaspe systems will be issued on Wednesday 10 August 2011.